Indian activist files petition in Pak court to seek Geeta's custody

In an attempt to find Geeta's parents, a deaf and mute Indian girl stuck in Pakistan for more than a decade, an Indian social worker has filed a petition in a court in Karachi to seek custody of the girl.

Geeta, a hearing and speech impaired Indian woman who has been stranded in Pakistan for past 15 years. (HT Photo)

In an attempt to find Geeta's parents, a deaf and mute Indian girl stuck in Pakistan for more than a decade, an Indian social worker has filed a petition in a court in Karachi to seek custody of the girl.

The petition was filed by Momineen Malik with the district and sessions court (south) which summoned Abdul Sattar Edhi, the chairman of Edhi Foundation -- a charity which is taking care of her, others as respondents in the application.

Court judge Ahmed Saba issued notices to the respondents with direction to appear in court along with Geeta on Monday.

Malik is the petitioner in the case and will be represented by a local lawyer.

Geeta, 23, is believed to have mistakenly crossed into Pakistani territory as a child.

Malik, who is also a lawyer, has moved an application under Section 552 (power to compel restoration of abducted females) of the criminal procedure code and asked the court for the custody of the woman in order to hand her over to her parents in India who are yet to be located in India despite the Indian government efforts.

Section 552 states that if a complaint is made to a sessions judge on oath about the abduction or unlawful detention of a woman, or of a female child under the age of 16 years, for any unlawful purpose, he may order the woman or girl to take a decision out of her own free will to be reunited with her husband, parent, guardian or other person having the lawful charge of such child, and may compel compliance with such order, using such force as may be necessary.

Geeta was found sitting alone and disorientated on Samjhauta Express in Lahore and police believed that she had come from India after crossing the Wagah border through the train.

She was later shifted to the Edhi home in Mithadar Karachi after the authorities failed to locate her family and relatives as she can't speak or hear.

Geeta's story came into the limelight after Salman Khan-starrer Bollywood hit Bajrangi Bhaijaan mirrored a similar story about a Pakistani girl lost in India and brought back to Pakistan by Khan.

Geeta's plight also attracted the attention of the Indian government which vowed to bring her back.

High commissioner TCA Raghavan and his wife had visited the Edhi home and met Geeta last month after her story was aired in the Pakistani media.